Elephant monitoring team member trampled to death by herd of wild jumbos in
Munnar
The Hindu
January 25, 2023
A member of an elephant monitoring team was trampled to death by a herd of
wild elephants at Panniyar, near Poopara, Munnar, on Wednesday. The
deceased was Shakthivel, 51, of Kozhippanakkudy at Chinnakkanal.
According to Forest department officials, Shakthivel was attacked by the
herd as he was trying to chase away the elephants at a tea estate around
6.30 a.m.
The officials said Shakthivel was one of the eight members of the
monitoring team under the Chinnakkanal forest section office deputed to
chase away wild elephants entering human habitations. On Wednesday morning,
Shakthivel and his team noticed the presence of a herd at Panniyar. He then
reached the spot around 6 a.m. to chase away the elephants. However, he
failed to answer the phone after 6.30 a.m. He was later found dead inside
the tea plantation around 11.45 a.m.
A forest official said it was suspected that he was attacked by the herd.
“A herd of eight elephants, including two calves, were reported roaming in
the region on Tuesday evening,“ said the official.
A joint action council later staged a road blockade on the national highway
at Thondimala and demanded steps to prevent man-animal conflicts under the
Devikulam range.
Meanwhile, Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran said the government would
provide ₹15 lakh as compensation to the kin of the deceased.
The Minister said the Forest department would install hanging solar fences
in the Chinnakkanal area to prevent man-animal conflicts. “A sum of ₹1.94
crore has been sought from the Centre under a project. The money will be
used for installing solar fencing, a check-post and strengthening the rapid
response team (RRT),” he said.
In December last year, an eight-member watchers’ team that included
Shakthivel, was chosen for the Wildlife Trust of India award for its
contribution towards mitigating man-animal conflicts and ensuring the
protection of the elephants in the region.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/elephant-monitoring-team-member-trampled-to-death-by-herd-of-wild-jumbos-in-munnar/article66432699.ece
Elephant monitoring team member trampled to death by herd of wild jumbos in
Munnar
The Hindu
January 25, 2023
A member of an elephant monitoring team was trampled to death by a herd of
wild elephants at Panniyar, near Poopara, Munnar, on Wednesday. The
deceased was Shakthivel, 51, of Kozhippanakkudy at Chinnakkanal.
According to Forest department officials, Shakthivel was attacked by the
herd as he was trying to chase away the elephants at a tea estate around
6.30 a.m.
The officials said Shakthivel was one of the eight members of the
monitoring team under the Chinnakkanal forest section office deputed to
chase away wild elephants entering human habitations. On Wednesday morning,
Shakthivel and his team noticed the presence of a herd at Panniyar. He then
reached the spot around 6 a.m. to chase away the elephants. However, he
failed to answer the phone after 6.30 a.m. He was later found dead inside
the tea plantation around 11.45 a.m.
A forest official said it was suspected that he was attacked by the herd.
“A herd of eight elephants, including two calves, were reported roaming in
the region on Tuesday evening,“ said the official.
A joint action council later staged a road blockade on the national highway
at Thondimala and demanded steps to prevent man-animal conflicts under the
Devikulam range.
Meanwhile, Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran said the government would
provide ₹15 lakh as compensation to the kin of the deceased.
The Minister said the Forest department would install hanging solar fences
in the Chinnakkanal area to prevent man-animal conflicts. “A sum of ₹1.94
crore has been sought from the Centre under a project. The money will be
used for installing solar fencing, a check-post and strengthening the rapid
response team (RRT),” he said.
In December last year, an eight-member watchers’ team that included
Shakthivel, was chosen for the Wildlife Trust of India award for its
contribution towards mitigating man-animal conflicts and ensuring the
protection of the elephants in the region.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/elephant-monitoring-team-member-trampled-to-death-by-herd-of-wild-jumbos-in-munnar/article66432699.ece
